A   PRAYER 


^ 


A  PRAYER 


AND  OTHER  SELECTIONS 


MAX    EHRMANN 


AUTHOR  OF  "  BREAKING  HOME  TIES  " 

WITH  BORDER  DECORATIONS  BY 

AGNES  M.    WATSON 


NEW  YORK 

DODGE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

220   EAST  23o   STREET 


Copyright,   1903,  by  DODGE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
Copyright,  1906,  by  DODGE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


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A  PRAYER 


L^T  me  do  my  work  each 
day;  and  if  the  darkened 
hours  of  despair  overcome 
me,  may  I  not  forget  the  strength 
that  comforted  me  in  the  deso 
lation  of  other  times.  May  I  still 
remember  the  bright  hours  that 
found  me  walking  over  the  silent 
hills  of  my  childhood,  or  dream 
ing  on  the  margin  of  the  quiet 
river,  when  a  light  glowed  within 
me,  and  I  promised  my  early  God 
to  have  courage  amid  the  tempests 


y 


-  ~ 


of  the  changing  years.  Spare  me 
from  bitterness  and  from  the  sharp 
passions  of  unguarded  moments. 
May  I  not  forget  that  poverty  and 
riches  are  of  the  spirit.  Though 
the  world  know  me  not,  may  my 
thoughts  and  actions  be  such  as 
shall  keep  me  friendly  with  my 
self.  Lift  my  eyes  from  the  earth, 
and  let  me  not  forget  the  uses  of 
the  stars.  Forbid  that  I  should 
judge  others,  lest  I  condemn  my 
self.  Let  me  not  follow  the 
clamor  of  the  world,  but  walk 
calmly  in  my  path.  Give  me  a 
few  friends  who  will  love  me  for 
what  I  am;  and  keep  ever  burning 


before  my  vagrant  steps  the  kindly 
light  of  hope.  And  though  age 
and  infirmity  overtake  me,  and  I 
come  not  within  sight  of  the  castle 
of  my  dreams,  teach  me  still  to  be 
thankful  for  life,  and  for  time's 
olden  memories  that  are  good  and 
sweet;  and  may  the  evening's  twi 
light  find  me  gentle  still. 


A     • 


THE  NOISE  OF  THE 
CITY 


\ 


THE  NOISE  OF  THE  CITY 


If  the  noise  of  the  city  offend  you, 
go  afield,  when  you  may, 
with  the  birds,  and  with  all 
the  wild  free  life  that  troubles 
not; 

The  growing  grain  and  the  placid 
sky  have  a  kind  of  voice;  and 
though  you  are  alone,  the 
boundlessness  of  the  universe 
is  with  you. 

The  dreams  of  imperishable  passions 
in  old  history,  the  love  of 
mothers  for  children,  and  the 
love  of  children,  born  and  un- 


born,  and  all  love,  swarm  in 
the  soft  air,  speaking  to  the 
inner  ear  in  the  still  language. 
Go  afield  with  the  birds  and  the 
growing  grain  and  the  placid 
sky,  and  dream  and  forget; 
and  you  will  see  that  you  are 
changed  when  you  awake  and 
the  gleams  of  the  city  peep 
in  your  twilight  returning. 


! 


'  \ 


. 


THE   LIGHT   OF 
A    CHEERFUL    HEART 


,  . 


THE    LIGHT   OF    A    CHEER 
FUL    HEART 

I  tell  you  that  you  and  I  and  the 
commonest  person  are  all 
journeying  in  the  same  way, 
hemmed  in  by  the  same  nar 
row  path,  leading  to  the 
eternaj  years. 

We   pride  ourselves  over  our   par 
ticular  superiority  ;    but  really       , 
there    is    little    difference 
between  us ; 

And  in  this  journey  over  the  thou 
sand  hills  and  valleys  called 


life,  he  is  wisest  who  is 
patient  where  the  way  is  hard, 
has  faith  when  he  does  not 
understand,  and  carries  into 
the  dark  places  the  light  of 
a  cheerful  heart. 


YOU  WITH   THE  STILL 
SOUL 


YOU      WITH      THE 
STILL     SOUL 

Maybe  you  have  a  still  soul  that 
goes  murmurless  like  the 
water  in  the  deep  of  rivers ; 

And  perchance  you  wander  silent 
amid  the  din  of  the  world's 
grinding  barter  like  one 
journeying  in  strange  lands. 

You,  too,  with  the  still  soul,  have 
your  mission,  for  beneath  the 
dashing,  noisy  waves  must 
ever  run  the  silent  waters  that 
give  the  tide  its  course. 


KINDNESS 


7N 


KINDNESS 


Who  lives 

For    kindness    gives 

A  light  to  darkened  lands; 

And  tho  no  image  of  him  stands 

In    public    place,   he    is    a    martyr 

Amid  piratic  schemes  of  barter ; 

And  triumphs  thohedieunwept: 

His  light  may  once  have  crept 

Through  hearts  ot  stone 

And  shone. 


